Serum IgG Concentrations after Intravenous Serum Transfusion in a Randomized Clinical Trial in Dairy Calves with Inadequate Transfer of Colostral Immunoglobulins

Background: Plasma transfusions have been used clinically in the management of neonates with failure of passive transfer. No studies have evaluated the effect of IV serum transfusions on serum IgG concentrations in dairy calves with inadequate transfer of passive immunity.
Hypothesis: A commercially available serum product will increase serum immunoglobulin concentration in calves with inadequate transfer of colostral immunoglobulins.
Animals: Thirty-two Jersey and Jersey-Holstein cross calves with inadequate colostral transfer of immunoglobulins (serum total protein <5.0 g/L).
Methods: Thirty-two calves were randomly assigned to either control (n = 15) or treated (n = 17) groups. Treated calves received 0.5 L of a pooled serum product IV. Serum IgG concentrations before and after serum transfusion were determined by radial immunodiffusion.
Results: Serum protein concentrations increased from time 0 to 72 hours in both control and transfused calves and the difference was significant between the control and treatment groups ( P < .001). Mean pre- and posttreatment serum IgG concentrations in control and transfused calves did not differ significantly. Median serum IgG concentrations decreased from 0 to 72 hours by 70 mg/dL in control calves and increased over the same time interval in transfused calves by 210 mg/dL. The difference was significant between groups ( P < .001). The percentage of calves that had failure of immunoglobulin transfer 72 hours after serum transfusion was 82.4%.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Serum administration at the dosage reported did not provide adequate serum IgG concentrations in neonatal calves with inadequate transfer of colostral immunoglobulins.     

Plasma Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Healthy Calves and Calves with Congenital Heart Disease

Background: The basic and clinical implications of evaluating plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in calves are unknown.
Objective: To investigate the relationship between the plasma ANP concentration and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in healthy calves subjected to volume overload (Study 1), and to compare the plasma ANP concentration in calves with or without heart disease (Study 2).
Animals: Six healthy calves were used in Study 1; disease calves and sick calves with (n = 9) and without congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 9) were used in Study 2.
Methods: In Study 1, LVEDP in anesthetized calves was manipulated by IV administration of acetated Ringer's solution (rate of 100 mL/kg/h for 20 minutes) and furosemide. In Study 2, disease calves were identified by blood examination and echocardiography or pathological examination. The plasma ANP concentration was determined by a chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for human α-ANP.
Results: In Study 1, preloading significantly increased the plasma ANP concentration (36 ± 20–185 ± 156, P < .01) and LVEDP (−11 ± 7–2 ± 12, P < .01) from the baseline. Furthermore, plasma ANP concentrations were strongly correlated with LVEDP ( r = 0.61). In Study 2, the plasma ANP concentration was significantly higher in the calves with CHD than in the calves without heart disease (220 [67–970] versus 31 [10–86]; mean [range], P < .001).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of plasma ANP concentrations in calves can provide additional information useful for predicting hemodynamic abnormalities.     

Effect of Orally Administered Cisapride,Bethanechol, and Erythromycin on the Apparent Efficiency of Colostral IgG Absorption in Neonatal Holstein‐Friesian Calves

Objective

To evaluate the effect of orally administered cisapride, bethanechol, and erythromycin on the absorption of colostral IgG in dairy calves.

Animals

Twenty‐four healthy neonatal Holstein‐Friesian calves.

Procedures

Calves were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 0.9% NaCl solution (2 mL, PO; negative control); erythromycin lactobionate (20 mg/kg BW, PO; anticipated to be a positive control); cisapride (0.5 mg/kg BW, PO); bethanechol chloride (0.5 mg/kg BW, PO). Calves were fed 3 L of pooled bovine colostrum containing acetaminophen (50 mg/kg) by suckling and oroesophageal intubation 30 minutes after each treatment was administered. Jugular venous blood samples were obtained periodically after the start of feeding and plasma total IgG, protein, acetaminophen, and glucose concentrations determined. Abomasal emptying rate was assessed by the time to maximal plasma acetaminophen concentration.

Results

Oral administration of cisapride facilitated the absorption of colostral IgG and protein. The effect of cisapride on abomasal emptying rate could not be evaluated because cisapride appeared to interfere with acetaminophen metabolism. Based on the total IgG and total protein concentration‐time relationships, the beneficial effects of cisapride appeared to occur early after oral administration and were transient.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Additional studies appear indicated to characterize the effect of cisapride dose on the magnitude and duration of its effect on facilitating the absorption of colostral IgG and protein. Identification of a nonantimicrobial method for increasing abomasal emptying rate, such as cisapride, will potentially provide a practical and effective method for facilitating transfer of passive immunity in colostrum‐fed dairy calves.     

Plasma Steroid Variations in Bull Calves Repeatedly Treated with Testosterone,Nortestosterone and Oestradiol Administered Alone or in Combination

The aim of this work was to investigate the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestradiol (E) as biological markers in response to illegal administration of testosterone, 19-nortestosterone (N) and oestradiol, either alone or in combination. Twenty male Friesian calves (age 13-14 months) were allotted to a control group (n = 5), and five experimental groups (n = 3) each. Each experimental animal was repeatedly injected with one of the following hormonal treatments: E, T, N, T+E and N+E. Circulating DHEA, T, DHT and E were determined by radioimmunoassay. The administration of T alone did not induce any variation in plasma DHEA, T, DHT and E, which were similar to those in the control group. In contrast, DHEA, T and DHT were on average significantly lower in the T+E and N-treated groups (p < 0.01), whereas the administration of N+E resulted in the reduction of plasma T and DHT without any modification of plasma DHEA. The administration of E alone or in combination increased circulating levels of E but did not affect androgen plasma profiles. The results indicate that plasma levels of T do not permit detection of illegal treatments because plasma androgens always remained within the physiological range. Illegal E treatment could be detected in blood samples when they were collected at least every 20 days.     

Immunoglobulin G concentration and neonatal survival of goat kids delivered in a pen or on open range

To determine whether kids born on open range (subjected to stress due to management practices) had lower IgG concentrations and a higher mortality risk than kids born in a pen, serum IgG concentrations in 63 one-day-old kids were determined. Median Serum IgG concentrations one day after birth tended to be lower (p=0.09) in surviving kids born in the open than that of surviving kids delivered in pen (115 vs. 1119 mg dl⁻¹). However, survival risk (71 and 82% for kids born on the open range and pen, respectively; n=79) were not significantly affected by site of kidding. Median IgG concentration of surviving kids born on a pen was not significantly different (p=0.13) compared to non-surviving kids (1118 vs. 115 mg dl⁻¹). No differences were detected in either median serum IgG levels or death rates between male and female kids. Kids with IgG concentrations <800 mg dl⁻¹ showed lower survival risks than those with higher concentrations. We concluded that typical management practices of kids delivered on open range at a goat operation under extensive conditions in northern Mexico tended to reduced colostrally acquired serum immunoglobulin levels, but had no effect directly on mortality.     

West Nile Virus Antibody Titers and Total Immunoglobulin G Concentrations in Foals from Mares Vaccinated in Late Gestation

This study was conducted to determine whether prepartum vaccination of mares would enhance passive transfer of West Nile virus (WNV)-specific antibodies and to characterize the pattern of decline for maternally derived WNV antibodies in foals. Seventeen light horse mares were allocated to WNV or control treatments. At 30 days before expected foaling, mares were vaccinated for encephalomyelitis, tetanus, herpesvirus, and influenza. At this time, WNV mares were vaccinated with a killed WNV vaccine. Blood samples were taken from mares 30 days before expected foaling, from mares and foals within 24 hours of foaling (0 days), and from foals at 7, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days of age as well as 30 days after an initial (PV1) and subsequent (PV2) WNV vaccination. Serum was analyzed for titer to WNV and total immunoglobulin G (IgG). Although WNV titer did not change over time in control mares, an increase (P < .05) was observed in WNV titer for WNV mares vaccinated 30 days before expected foaling. Foals of WNV dams had greater (P < .05) WNV titers than foals of control dams. Mean WNV titers of all foals increased from 0 to 7 days and declined through 180 days of age. Total IgG of foals increased from days 0 to 7, declined from days 30 to 120, and increased from days 150 through PV2. These results suggest that vaccination of mares for WNV in late gestation has a beneficial effect on foal WNV titer.     

大豆黄酮对犊牛生长性能及免疫机能的影响

研究大豆黄酮对犊牛生长发育及免疫机能的影响。方法是选取16头犊牛随机分为两组,分别于鲜奶中添加0g／（d·头）、2．5g／（d·头）大豆黄酮。试验前后采血,采用ELISA分析血浆q-T3、T4、IgG、IgA等指标。试验结果表明,大豆黄酮能明显提高血浆中的T3、T4、IgG、IgA水平。结果显示大豆黄酮可能参与了犊牛的免疫调节过程,可提高犊牛的体液免疫水平。     

Comparison of Thoracic Auscultation,Clinical Score,and Ultrasonography as Indicators of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Preweaned Dairy Calves

Background

The diagnostic tools for bovine respiratory disease diagnosis include clinical inspection, thoracic auscultation, and ultrasonography.

Hypothesis

Thoracic auscultation and clinical examination have limitations in the detection of lung consolidation in dairy calves.

Animals

Prospective cohort of 106 preweaned calves from 13 different dairy herds (10 with a history of active bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in calves and 3 without suspected BRD problems).

Methods

Each preweaned calf was clinically inspected using the Wisconsin calf respiratory scoring chart (CRSC) and treatment history was noted. Systematic thoracic auscultation and ultrasonography then were performed, the latter focusing on lung consolidation. Mortality was recorded over a 30‐day period.

Results

A total of 56 of 106 calves had ultrasonographic evidence of lung consolidation. The sensitivity of thoracic auscultation to detect consolidation was 5.9% (range, 0–16.7%). Only 41.1% (23/33) of calves with consolidated lungs had been treated previously by the producers. When adding CRSC and previous BRD treatment by the producer, sensitivity of detection increased to 71.4% (40/56). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.809 (95% CI, 0.721–0.879) for the number of areas within the lungs with consolidation and 0.743 (95% CI, 0.648–0.823) for the maximal depth of consolidation as predictors of death within 1 month after examination. These were not significantly different (P = .06).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

This study shows that thoracic auscultation is of limited value in diagnosing lung consolidation in calves. Ultrasonographic assessment of the thorax could be a useful tool to assess BRD detection efficiency on dairy farms.     

Lethal Acrodermatitis in Bull Terriers: A Problem of Defective Zinc Metabolism

Abstract— Three bull terrier pups from a litter of six developed exfoliative, crusty areas of alopecia, particularly affecting the feet and head, by the time they were seven weeks of age. Biopsies from two of the affected pups revealed parakeratotic hyperkeratosis consistent with zinc deficiency, but the dogs did not respond to oral zinc supplements. The breed, history and dermatopathology were considered consistent with lethal acrodermatitis of bull terriers, a condition that appears to be familial and autosomally recessive. Whereas similar acrodermatitic conditions in humans (acrodermatitis enteropathica) and cattle (lethal trait A46 of Black Pied Danish cattle) respond to oral zinc supplements, this condition in bull terriers may be due to an error in zinc metabolism at the cellular level. Attempts to treat one of the pups parenterally with zinc resulted in death after the fourth injection. Résumé— 3 choits d'une portée de 6 Bull Terriers ont développéà l'âge de 7 semaines une dermite podale et faciale exfoliative, crouteuse et alopécique. Les biopsies cutanées pratiquées sur 2 chiots ont révélé une hyperkératose parakératosique compatible avec une carence en zinc, mais les animaux n'ont pas répondu à une supplémentation en zinc. La race, l'anamnèse et l'aspect histologique, sont compatibles avec une acrondermatite léthale du Bull Terrier, maladie familiale, transmise sur un mode autosomal récessif. Des acrodermatites similaires chez l'homme (acrodermatitis enteropatica) et les bovins (anomalie léthale A46 de la Pie Noire Danoise) répondant à une supplémentation en zinc, cette affection chez le Bull Terrier pourrait êtro à une erreur dans le métabolisme du zinc au niveau cellulaire. Un essai de traitement d'un des chiots par vole parcutérale avec du zinc a abouti à sa mort après la quatrième injection. Zusammenfassung— Drei von sechs Bullterrierwelpen aus einem Wurf entwickelten im Alter von 7 Wochen exfoliative, krustige und haarlose Bezirke, besonders an Pfoten und Kopf. Biopsien von zwei der betroffenen Welpen zeigten eine Parakeratose, die bei Zinkmangel auftritt. Die Tiere sprachen jedoch nicht auf orale Zinksubstitution an. Rasse, Anamnese und Befunde der Hautuntersuchung stimmen mit der letalen Akrodermatitis der Bullterrier überein, einem familiären, autosomal rezessiv erblichen Leiden. Während ähnliche akrodermatitische Erkrankungen beim Menschen (Akrodermatitis enteropathica) und beim Rind (Letalfaktor A46 beim schwarzgefleckten Dänischen Rind) auf orale Zinkgaben ansprechen, ist diese Krankheit beim Bullterrier wahrscheinlich auf eine Störung im Zinkmetabolismus auf zellulärer Ebene zurückzuführen. Der Versuch, einen der Welpen parenteral mit Zink zu behandeln, führte zum Tod des Tieres nach der vierten Injektion. Resumen Tres cachorros de Bull Terrier de una camada de seis desarrollaron areas de alopecia exfoliativa, particularmente afectando a los pies y la cabeza, para el momento en que tenian siete semanas de edad. Biopsias de dos de los cachorros afectados revelaron hiperqueratosis paraqueratótica con deficiencia de zinc, pero los perros no respondían a los suplementos de zinc oral. La raza, historia y dermatopatología se consideraron consistentes en acrodermatitis letal de Bull Terriers, una condición que parece ser familial y autosómica recesiva. Mientras que condiciones de acrodermatitis similares en humanos (acrodermatitis enteropética) y ganado (rasgo letal A46 del ganado Black Pied Danish) respondían a los suplementos de zinc oral, esta condición en los Bull Terriers puede ser debida a un error en el metabolismo del zinc a nivel celular. Intentos de trater uno de los cachorros, por vía parenteral con zinc resultaron con la muerte después de la cuarta inyección.     

水牛犊牛血浆外泌体的分离与鉴定

研究旨在从水牛犊牛血浆中分离外泌体,并对分离的外泌体进行分子生物学特征分析和鉴定。采用差速离心法分离3头水牛犊牛的血浆外泌体,并在透射电子显微镜下观察其形态,使用纳米粒度及Zeta电位仪对提取的外泌体进行粒径大小分析,应用Western blotting方法检测外泌体标记蛋白钙联蛋白（Calnexin）、肿瘤易感基因101（TSG101）、CD9、CD81在3头水牛犊牛血浆外泌体中的表达情况。结果显示,从水牛犊牛血浆中分离的外泌体形态多为圆形和椭圆形,直径在30~150 nm;Western blotting检测结果表明,在水牛血浆外泌体表面,特异性蛋白Calnexin、TSG101和CD81阳性表达,CD9不表达。本研究从形态学和分子生物学特征等方面证实研究获得的提取物为外泌体,由此说明,差速离心法可以成功分离提取水牛犊牛血浆中的外泌体,为水牛外泌体的后续研究提供了重要技术基础和参考。     

Simulation analysis of the effect of herd immunity and age structure on infection of a cattle herd with bluetongue viruses in Queensland, Australia

A state-transition model based on Leslie matrix formulation was used to investigate the effects of herd immunity and age structure on the infection of a simulated cattle herd with bluetongue viruses under Australian climatic conditions. Increasing duration of immunity decreased the prevalence of infection. A duration of immunity of 33 months was consistent with prevalence estimates made from previous serological studies of bluetongue virus. Herd prevalence displayed slowly dampening cyclical variation over time (most pronounced when a short duration of immunity was simulated). Increasing calving and mortality risk rates in the simulated herd increased prevalence, whereas increasing age at first calving decreased prevalence. Manipulation of calving rates had the greatest effect on the predicted prevalence of infection in the herd. Simulation of a number of herd-management scenarios suggested that management systems in which cattle are bred early and where high calving rates are achieved are likely to contribute to high levels of infection with bluetongue viruses. Results confirm the importance of management factors in influencing the prevalence of infectious diseases in animal populations.     

Veterinary Randomized Clinical Trial Reporting: A Review of the Small Animal Literature

The randomized clinical trial (RCT) is a valuable research method for the evaluation of new treatment and prevention regimens in veterinary medicine. Reporting of clinical trials in other disciplines has not been complete. Without complete information on the conduct and results of a clinical trial, readers cannot optimize their use of the information presented. This report represents an objective review of randomized clinical trials in the veterinary small animal literature from 1986 to 1990. Results indicate that RCT reports in the small animal veterinary literature are incomplete. The importance of reporting on particular aspects of RCT research is described.     

Amlodipine: A Randomized, Blinded Clinical Trial in 9 Cats with Systemic Hypertension

The efficacy of amlodipine (AML) was tested in hypertensive cats in a placebo-controlled, randomized, blinded clinical trial. Five cats were randomized to receive 0.625 mg AML once daily and 4 cats to receive placebo (PLA) once daily. The average systolic blood pressure (SBP) recorded by the Doppler method on day 0 was 212 ± 21 mm Hg in the AML group and 216 ± 32 mm Hg in the PLA group. On day 7, the cats receiving AML had a significantly lower average daily SBP (160 ± 30 mm Hg) but SBP in the PLA group was unchanged (207 ± 31 mm Hg). On day 7, all cats receiving PLA and one cat receiving AML were crossed over to the other group because of inadequate response. Blood pressure did not decrease adequately in 3 cats by day 14 (7 days of PLA and 7 days AML) and the treatment code was broken. Each of these cats was subsequently administered 1.25 mg AML daily. Cats requiring 1.25 mg AML once daily (6.1 kg ± 0.7 kg) weighed significantly more than cats that responded to 0.625 mg AML once daily (4.1 ± 0.7 kg). The average daily SBP recorded in the 6 cats that completed the study was significantly lower after 16 weeks of treatment (152 ± 14 mm Hg) compared to day 0 (221 ± 24 mm Hg). Three cats were euthanized before completion of the study. All 3 cats were responders to AML on day 7. SBPs measured 24 hours after AML administration were similar to the average daily SBP, suggesting that AML effectively controlled SBP for a 24-hour period. AML was shown to be an effective once-daily antihypertensive agent when administered to cats at a dosage of 0.18 ± 0.03 mg/kg sid.     

Mortality and commercial off-take rates in adult traditional cattle of Zambia

A cohort study was conducted in the livestock-wildlife interface areas of Zambia to determine cattle mortality and commercial off-take rates among adult cattle as well as factors influencing them. A total of 416 animals from 43 herds were followed up for one year and animals were individually identified and their fate was indicated as sold, slaughtered, dead or present as appropriate. The overall mortality incidence risk was estimated at 7.5%. Cattle in Kazungula were at a greater risk of dying compared to those in Blue Lagoon and Lochnivar. Annual off-take was estimated at 13.7% (8.1–19.3%), unadjusted values, and 16.4% (8.1–24.5%) after adjusting for sampling fraction in primary sampling units (herds) and area stratification. Area variations were observed with Kazungula recording the highest in both instances, which was attributed to a contagious bovine pleural pneumonia (CBPP) outbreak. Herd size and gender were observed to influence cattle mortality rates. Cattle in the middle-sized herds (50–150 cattle) recorded high mortality rates (OR = 3.91) compared to smaller herds (10–50) and so were females compared to males (OR = 4.16). The logistic regression model showed that cattle death was influenced by managerial factors and that off-take rates tend to increase in the face of disease outbreaks.     

不同加工贮藏方式的玉米对奶公犊牛育肥性能的影响

[目的]玉米是一种重要的能量饲料,探讨和研究不同玉米加工贮藏方法对奶公牛育肥性能的影响,以提高其利用效率,降低在奶公牛育肥中养殖应用成本.[方法]将30头奶公犊牛（平均为5月龄）随机分为3组,每组10头,分别饲喂普通粉碎玉米、蒸汽压片玉米和湿贮发酵玉米,育肥试验期为50 d.[结果]饲喂蒸汽压片玉米和湿贮发酵玉米后,日增重和日利润可达1.29kg、13.87元/d和1.24kg、13.48元/d,均高于对照组.[结论]在肉牛育肥中,对于蒸汽压片玉米和玉米籽实湿贮的加工和贮藏方法都是肉牛养殖业中值得推广的实用技术.     

Influence of environmental temperature on the physiological, endocrine, and immune responses in livestock exposed to a provocative immune challenge

Although livestock experience many stressors throughout their life, one of the most commonly experienced, and most difficult to control, is stress caused by fluctuations in environmental temperatures that extend beyond the thermoneutral (TN) zone for an animal. In swine, cold stress has long been recognized as a main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A possible explanation for this increased morbidity and mortality may be related to their inability to generate a febrile response. Previously, we reported that the acute phase immune response, including the generation of fever, after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O111: B4; Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) is substantially altered in neonatal pigs maintained in a cold environment (ie, 18°C). Neonatal pigs that were maintained in a cold environment and administered LPS experienced a period of hypothermia coupled with altered endocrine and proinflammatory cytokine responses that could prove detrimental. In cattle, we previously reported differences in the acute phase immune response of two diverse breeds of Bos taurus cattle (Angus and Romosinuano) when maintained under TN conditions and exposed to LPS. More recently we have reported that differences in the stress and immune responses of Angus and Romosinuano heifers varies, depending on whether the cattle were housed at either TN or heat stress air temperatures. Our data clearly show that even intermittent periods of heat stress similar to that experienced in production environments can have significant effects on the stress and innate immune responses of cattle. Understanding the effect of thermal stress on livestock is critical to developing and implementing alternative management practices to improve their overall health and well-being.